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'Too tough to ignore': ABs hero expects two bolters in RWC squad
Former All Black Stephen Donald believes two bolters will be named in next year’s Rugby World Cup squad, including an in-form outside back who will be “too tough to ignore.”
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After an up and down international season, which began with a first ever series loss in New Zealand against Ireland, the All Blacks seemed to hit their stride in the back end of the year.
While they had to overcome a genuine scare against a valiant Japan side in Tokyo, New Zealand went unbeaten throughout their end-of-season tour.
The All Blacks recorded an emphatic win over Wales in Cardiff, before beating Scotland in Murrayfield and then drawing with England in London.
But with the season now over, and with a year of international blockbusters now just a collection of memories and history, the focus has already shifted to next year’s World Cup.
New Zealand begin their World Cup campaign against tournament hosts France at Stade de France in early September, in what promises to be a crucial clash for both nations.
It’s undeniable that the All Blacks will have to be at their best to not only beat Les Bleus, but to win the tournament – so just as they did with Nehe Milner-Skudder in 2015, they may look to some fresh faces to spur the team to World Cup glory.
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Rugby World Cup hero and icon Stephen ‘Beaver’ Donald, who famously kicked the winning penalty in the 2011 final, believes Shaun Stevenson will be on the plane to France.
“Shaun Stevenson will finally get the No. 15 jersey for the Chiefs for the entire campaign, he will flow on from his magnificent Barbarians and New Zealand XV form, and he will just too tough to ignore,” Donald said on SENZ’s The Run Home.
“He will be next year’s Nehe Milner-Skudder scenario.”
While Stevenson has simply been phenomenal in every jersey he’s played in this year, it’s still a bold call from Beaver considering the depth the team has in their outside backs.
Donald believes Leicester Fainga’anuku, Will Jordan and Damian McKenzie will all make the squad along with Stevenson, which leaves a number of stars potentially battling it out for one spot.
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All Blacks stars Caleb Clarke, Sevu Reece, Braydon Ennor, Mark Telea and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck could all, theoretically, by vying for the final spot in the 33-man squad.
“My outside backs right now and this is obviously ridiculous, Leicester I am going to keep me all in on Leicester. I think there’s x-factor galore there,” he said.
“Will Jordan, obviously he’s going. Damian McKenzie, you’re going. This is where it gets tantalizing.
“Clarke, Reece, Telea, Ennor, RTS all scrap it out for one spot for me and I give that one spot to Sevu Reece.”
But Stevenson wasn’t the only bolter in Donald’s way-too-early World Cup squad.
The All Blacks have talented halfbacks in their ranks, but two World Cup hopefuls are in a race to be fit for the sports biggest tournament after sustaining injuries this year.
Folau Fakatava and TJ Perenara are both set for lengthy stints on the sidelines, which could open the door for a up-and-coming 22-year-old Hurricanes scrum-half.
“My smokey, I think Cam Roigard could well and truly be in the mix.
“I’m thinking Fakatava and Perenara are going to struggle fitness wise to be really in cosndieration if we’re being realistic.
“Therefore you’ve got Smith obviously starting, and then you could go Christie and Weber but for me the three of them are absolutely like for like.
“The reason I’ve always said that Perenara’s days are never done is because he’s different to all of them, he’s probably more like Fakatava.
“Maybe it’s Smith, Weber, Roigard three.”
With Perenara out for up to nine months are rupturing his Achilles in the dramatic draw with England, Roigard may be the Hurricanes’ go-to starter throughout next year’s Super Rugby campaign.
While he’s starred for Counties Manukau in the Bunnings NPC, and has played some valuable minutes at Super Rugby level, this could be his best chance yet to prove himself.
And what a time to potentially be given that opportunity.
“He’s a bigger body, defensively bigger, strong around the fringes and he’s gonna get the opportunity to start every game for the Hurricanes this year.
“We saw what he did in the NPC. Maybe this is the bolter.
“There’s always a bolter, always a bolter.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Super rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
7 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
7 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
14 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
14 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
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